Let's talk about fear. I'm not talking about the kind that makes you jump during a horror movie, but the quiet, sneaky kind. This is the fear that keeps you stuck, the one that keeps you playing small. It often sounds perfectly logical, but it's actually our inner critic in disguise, what I call the "evil inner witch". It’s the voice that whispers, "What if I fail?" or "What if people find out I have no idea what I'm doing?".
If those thoughts sound familiar, you're not alone. They are part of our biological survival system. When our brain senses a threat, whether it's real or imagined, it triggers a fight, flight, or freeze response. The problem is, our brain can't always tell the difference between a real danger and an imagined one.
Think about being afraid of flying. The plane hasn't even taken off, but you might already feel butterflies, start to sweat, or freeze up. That threat isn't real yet, but your body can have a powerful physical reaction to it.
Our brains haven't evolved much since the days we were running from lions. Today, we aren't afraid of wild animals; our modern fears are rejection, judgment, failure, and uncertainty. We live in a world that has conditioned us to fear failure, to avoid speaking up, and to hide our emotions. This conditioning becomes our internal programming. So, what can we do about it?
The Path from Fearful to Fearless: The 3 A's
In my book, "The Warrior Mindset," I outline a three-step process to go from fearful to fearless. It’s a method of peeling back the layers, feeling the emotion, and beginning to heal.
Step 1: Awareness
The first step is simply
Awareness. We have to understand that what we're feeling is, at its core, fear. Fear is sneaky and often disguises itself as anger, resentment, or frustration. For example, if you feel nervous about speaking on stage—your stomach has butterflies, you're sweating, you might forget your lines—the root of that nervousness is fear. It's the fear of judgment or the fear of failure. Once you become aware that the deep-down feeling is fear, you can begin to observe it without letting it take over.
Step 2: Acceptance
This next step may feel counterintuitive. Instead of fighting the fear, you must practice
Acceptance. Acknowledge that feeling fear is a normal part of the human experience. Then, you can call it out. I want you to say, "Hey, fear, I see you. I acknowledge you. I welcome you. And I ask you to have a seat on the side while I do the thing that I'm here to do".
When you do this, you stop pushing against the fear. You've allowed it to come in and take a seat, and you can be at peace with it. Stop making fear the enemy. Just let it sit there while you remain in charge.
Step 3: Action
Once fear is no longer a threatening entity, you can take
Action. When you take action despite the fear, even one small, tiny, courageous step—you will begin to fight the fear and let it go. In that moment of action, you unleash your inner warrior, and the fear starts to fizzle out. Action liberates, and fear paralyzes. Taking that one step is how you wow the audience you were afraid to face or take the flight that leads you to places you never thought you'd go. Feeling fear means you're doing something brave.
Your Action Plan for Today
I want you to try this right now.
Name It: Identify one fear that is keeping you stuck right now. This is your moment of awareness.
Question It: Get curious. Where did this fear come from? Whose voice are you hearing in your head? Is it a parent, a teacher, a bully from your past? Who are you afraid to disappoint or be judged by?.
Act On It: What is one small action you can take today while still feeling this fear? Welcome the fear, have it sit next to you, and take one small step forward despite it.
Bravery is a choice. It’s about fighting the mindset battle every day until you find your way out. Don't let fear hold you back.
Let me know in the comments: What is one fear you are letting go of today?
Do you have an inspiring story of resilience, healing, or transformation? We’d love to hear from you! Share your story and apply to be a guest on the podcast using this form.
Book a Reading or Discovery Call
If you’re ready to explore your next steps toward alignment and fulfillment, book a personalized reading or discovery call with Chitra Rochlani. Learn more and book here.
A Reminder for You
If you’re struggling right now, remember this: You’ve already survived 100% of your hardest days. Take it one small step at a time, and don’t hesitate to reach out for support.
About the Creator
Chitra Rochlani is a Wellness Coach, Speaker, and best-selling author of She’s on a mission to help her clients eliminate stress and loneliness, feel more aligned, and live a life of fulfillment and passion.As a medium and intuitive healer, she educates and empowers her clients to tap into their most underutilized superpower—their intuition—to navigate their lives and make WINx3 decisions.She uses her P.F.H. (Peel, Feel, Heal) framework to inspire transformation through:
Seminars
Interactive workshops
1:1 and group intuitive readings
Monthly membership program (The Warrior Mindset Collective)
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💬 I'd love to hear from you:
What’s one thing that helps you shift out of comparison? Share it with me in the comments or reply to this email. Your insight might be the reminder someone else needs today.
If you’ve ever wanted to go deeper into this work with me, now’s the time.
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